Cable joint with end bodies and a longitudinally slotted sleeve

ABSTRACT

A cable joint comprising a pair of end bodies and a longitudinally slotted sleeve which is secured on the end bodies with a sealing system arranged therebetween characterized by the sealing system having two annular portions and at least one longitudinal portion and an arrangement for clamping the sleeve in sealing engagement on the end bodies. Preferably, the sealing system is reusable and the assembly can be accomplished with ordinary tools such as a screwdriver. In one embodiment, the annular portions are separate from the longitudinal portions. In another embodiment, a single ring-shaped element forms both the annular portions and the two longitudinal portions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a cable joint with end bodieshaving sealing glands for cables to extend through and a sleeve having alongitudinally extending slot which is wrapped around the spaced apartend bodies with a sealing system interposed therebetween to seal thelongitudinal slot and the junctions between the sleeve and each of theend bodies.

A cable joint having a pair of end bodies coacting with a sleeve havinga longitudinal slot is disclosed in German Pat. No. 2,427,677 and inU.S. Pat. No. 4,103,911. In these patents, the end bodies are formed byjoined together members, which have cable inlet openings which can beadapted to the size of the cable which is to be utilized. In theassembled state, the end bodies are provided at their outer peripheralsurface with the sealing means and a sleeve having a longitudinallyextending slot is clamped thereon. Along the longitudinal slot, thesleeve has, for example, clamping closure elements which consist ofwedge-shaped beads or flanges along the slot which receive a matching,clamping bar that is drawn on the beads to urge them to a closed andsealing position. An example of such a clamping bar is disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 4,087,190, which is based on German Gebrauchamuster No.7,620,440. In cable joints of this kind, particularly in largeembodiments, considerable closing forces are necessary which in additionto requiring special tools also require special care when forming theseal between the various components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to improve upon the cable jointsof the above described types in such a manner that the assembly at alocation does not require special tools and where both in general and inparticular in respect to the sealing inserts, the assembly is tosimplified.

The object is obtained by an improvement in a cable joint having a pairof end bodies with sealing glands for openings receiving the cable, asleeve having a longitudinally extending slot with edge portions, saidsleeve being wrapped around the spaced end body and held thereon byclamping means engaging closure elements disposed along the edges of theslot. The improvement comprising a sealing system having annularportions for forming a seal between each of the end bodies and thesleeve and a longitudinal portion for forming a seal at said slot, saidportions being of an elastic material and being sufficiently flexible tobe positioned on the end bodies and at the slot prior to assembly of thesleeve on the end bodies so that the closing means and the closureelements are constructed to maintain the necessary closing pressure andto be assembled on the joint by means of conventional tools.

In the exemplary embodiments in accordance with the present invention,the sealing system has the annular portions positioned between theperipheral surface of each of the end bodies and the sleeve and also hasa longitudinally extending portion positioned to seal the longitudinalslot with these portions consisting of elastic material. In comparisonto previous bonded sealing inserts, the structure provides easierassembly conditions and the advantage consists, in particular, thatthese sealing portions can be reused. This means that when it isnecessary to open the cable joint, it can be reclosed in accordance withthe present invention without additional means or replacing sealingmaterial. Furthermore, the sealing system along the slot in the sleeveis matched to the sealing elements in respect to shape, elasticity andfixing in such a manner that it is unnecessary to use special tools.Opening and also subsequent reclosing of the sleeve thus does notnecessitate special measures and therefore, these procedures can becarried out without problems. The closing elements which are used incombination with the sealing elements in accordance with the inventionrequire, for example, only a conventional screw driver which isavailable in all tool kits. The sealing elements or portions themselvesare easily fixed with ease of assembly in the individual sleeve elementsso that no special skills or manual measures are required.

All the described variations of the exemplary embodiments are based onthis described aim which is fulfilled by the principles in accordancewith this invention. Other advantages and features will be readilyapparent from the following description, drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a cable joint in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an embodiment of the cablejoint in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a third embodiment of thecable joint of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the sealing system inaccordance with the present system;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the sealing system inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a modification of a portion of asealing system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of another modification of thesealing system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of another modification of thesealing system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the sealing system inaccordance with the present invention illustrating another crosssectional configuration;

FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating the relationship of pressure on thesealing portion, such as illustrated in FIG. 9, relative to distance ofdisplacement;

FIG. 11 is a partial cross sectional view with portions in elevation forpurposes of illustration of an embodiment of the cable joint utilizingthe sealing system of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken along lines XII--XII of FIG. 1illustrating the sealing system with the cable sleeve partially opened;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the system of FIG. 12 in the closedposition;

FIG. 14 is a partial plan view of an end body and a connecting barutilized in the system illustrated in FIG. 12 with the sealing systeminstalled thereon;

FIG. 15 is a partial plan view similar to FIG. 14 with the sealingsystem removed;

FIG. 16 is a partial cross sectional view taken along line XVI--XVI ofFIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a split annular sealing portion inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a partial transverse cross sectional view illustrating alongitudinal sealing portion of an embodiment similar to the embodimentof FIG. 2;

FIG. 19 is a longitudinal cross sectional view with portions broken awayillustrating the annular sealing ring such as illustrated in FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line XX--XX ofof FIG. 2 illustrating a modification of the sealing system and theclamping arrangement in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a partial plan view of the clamping arrangement of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a partial transverse cross sectional view of the longitudinalsealing portion showing a modification of the clamping arrangement;

FIG. 23 is a partial plan view of the clamping arrangement of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the clamping wire utilized in theclamping arrangement of FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is a transverse cross sectional view of a longitudinal sealingportion utilizing another clamping arrangement;

FIG. 26 is a partial plan view of the clamping arrangement of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a transverse cross sectional view of a longitudinal sealingportion illustrating another modification of a clamping arrangement;

FIG. 28 is a partial plan view of the clamping arrangement of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a partial transverse cross sectional view illustrating yetanother modification of the clamping arrangement for the longitudinalsealing portion;

FIG. 30 is a plan view with portions broken away for purposes ofillustration of the clamping arrangement of FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the clampingarrangement of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a partial cross sectional view illustrating a still furthermodification of the clamping arrangement for the longitudinal seal;

FIG. 33 is a transverse cross sectional view illustrating yet anothermodification of the clamping arrangement and longitudinal seal;

FIG. 34 is an enlarged partial transverse cross sectional view of alongitudinal seal adjacent the annular sealing portion modification ofthe present invention;

FIG. 35 is a plan view of the intersection of the longitudinal andannular seals with portions broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 36 is a partial transverse cross sectional view similar to FIG. 34illustrating the clamping elements in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a spring element used in the embodimentof FIG. 36 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 38 is a partial transverse cross sectional view taken along lineXXXVIII--XXXVIII of FIG. 3;

FIG. 39 is a transverse cross sectional view similar to FIG. 38 of amodification of the arrangement of FIG. 38;

FIG. 40 is a transverse cross sectional view similar to 38 of anothermodification of the embodiment of FIG. 38;

FIG. 41 is a transverse cross sectional view of another embodiment ofthe longitudinal sealing portion in an inflated condition;

FIG. 42 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 41 with thehorizontal portion being inflated into a sealing engagement;

FIG. 43 is another transverse cross sectional view of the inflatablelongitudinal sealing element in an uninflated condition;

FIG. 44 is a transverse cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG.43 in the inflated condition;

FIG. 45 is a third embodiment of an inflatable longitudinal crosssectional sealing portion in an uninflated condition;

FIG. 46 is a transverse cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG.45 in the inflated condition;

FIG. 47 is a partial longitudinal cross sectional view of an embodimentof an annular portion taken along line IIIL--IIIL of FIG. 3;

FIG. 48 is a perspective view of an element used in the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 47; and

FIG. 49 is a cross sectional view of another modification of sealingportions in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The principles of the present invention are particularly useful in acable joint generally indicated at 100 in FIG. 1. The cable joint 100has a pair of end bodies 7, which are spaced apart by a connecting bar13, and a sleeve 8, which has a longitudinally extending slot and iswrapped and held tightly therearound. To provide a water-tight seal bothfor the engagement between the sleeve 8 and each of the end bodies 7 andthe longitudinally extending slot of the sleeve, a sealing system havingannular or end portions 1 and two horizontal or longitudinal portions 2is provided. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the sealing system has theportions 1 and 2 interconnected as a single, continuous ring-shapedmember to form an endless sealing element. This endless sealing elementis positioned with the annular portions 1 being received in peripheralgrooves in each of the bodies 7 and the longitudinal extending portions2 being positioned on the connecting bar 13 which is formed of aimpervious material. Thus, by positioning of the sleeve 8 wrapped ontothe end bodies 7 with the edges forming the slot positioned over thehorizontal portions 2, and by clamping the sleeve in this position, awater-tight seal is obtained. In this arrangement, the connecting bar13, which was originally provided to hold the two end bodies 7 at thedesired spacing, now simultaneously is used as a support for thelongitudinal extending seal portions 2. Each of the end bodies 7 areformed of two members joined together to form a sealing engagement witha cable K, which is to extend through an opening therein. The end bodies7 can have structure of the various modifications, that is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,103,911, whose disclosure is incorporated by referencethereto.

A second embodiment of the cable joint is generally indicated at 100a inFIG. 2. This embodiment includes a pair of end bodies 7 and a sleeve8(1). In this embodiment, the sealing system has the two annular sealingportions 1 and at least one longitudinal sealing portion 2 which areseparate units or elements with the annular sealing portions 1 beingdisposed on the peripheral surface of the split end bodies 7 and alongitudinal portion 2 being fixed on one of the two longitudinal edgesof the sleeve 8(1). Thus, the sleeve can be supplied as a cohesive,individual component. This arrangement obviates the need for theassembly work present in the embodiment of FIG. 1. Since, as alreadymentioned, the sealing portions 1 and 2 consist of elastic material, thejoint body can be repeatedly opened and closed using the sealing system.

A third embodiment of the cable joint system is generally indicated at100b in FIG. 3. In the third embodiment, the sealing system again hasannular and longitudinal portions 1 and 2 which are formed ofcontinuous, single ring-shape elements and these are carried on a splitsleeve 8(2). As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, a connecting bar or membercan be provided for spacing the two end bodies 7 and for acting with thehorizontal portions 2 and forming the seal. This arrangement will bediscussed later on with regard to FIG. 38.

The sealing system of the embodiment 100 of FIG. 1 and the embodiment100b of FIG. 3 have the annular portions 1 interconnected to thehorizontal or longitudinal extending portions 2 as best illustrated inFIG. 4. As illustrated, the two annular portions 1 are at the end andare interconnected by two parallel longitudinally extending portions 2.The shape can be inserted in a particularly simple manner into thesealing grooves of already assembled end bodies of the cable joint andsimultaneously positioning of the longitudinal seals will also occur andcan be inserted in the provided sealing zone, for example, of theexemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The insertion operation issimple and no incisions are necessary.

The sealing system of FIG. 4 can have various different constructions asfar as cross sections. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the portions 1 and 2have an elastic base core 1a or 2a, which is formed of a silicone-rubberand is provided with an additional coating 1b or 2b consisting of asuitable material for permeation protection, for example an elastomercoating. This cross sectional shape can be virtually, arbitrarily variedalthough it must correspond to the profile of the sealing zone. Thus,rectangular cross sections with or without curved surfaces can also beutilized as are double profiles and the like. However, the base materialfor the sealing element is of essential importance and an example of theexemplary embodiemnts in accordance with the present inventionpreferably consist of an elastomer. This applies to all of the followingdescribed sealing elements.

A modification of the cross section of the sealing element isillustrated in FIG. 6. In this modification, both the annular andlongitudinal portions 1 and 2 have a rectangular or box-shaped crosssection with a groove extending along one side to form two spacedsealing lips 1c or 2c. The provision of the sealing lips makes thesealing element rendered softer and more adaptable to forming a seal.

It is also possible to use a tubular element for the sealing portions 1and 2. If the interior of a tubular sealing element is supplied withinternal pressure, it will become more adapted to a particular sealingcondition. In this way, the closing pressure necessary for the sealingprocess can be set extremely accurately and easily and the closingelements of the closure system can be designed to be correspondingly ofa simpler construction since the necessary closing pressure need not beapplied at the time of assembly. Thus, by way of examples illustrated inFIG. 7, a tubular sealing element, which is a continous, ring-shapedmember having portions 1 and 2 integrated together, is provided with avalve 3 through which the required internal pressure can be provided inthe interior of the tubular sealing element. Thus, this endless tubularsystem can be filled with a pressure medium, which may be gas or liquid,following the closure of the sleeve. The inner walls of the tube areprotected from permeation by providing a special coating. The pressuremedium can be pumped into the tube by a handpump or a supply cartridge.The supply cartridge can remain attached to a flange and can be used fora refill in the event of a pressure loss.

Whereas the pressure control in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7 isachieved by an appropriate supply of pressure medium, anothermodification is illustrated in FIG. 8 in which no supply of the pressuremedium is necessary. The pressure increase is achieved by compressing acontainer 4, which is permanently connected to the closed pressuresystem of the tubular sealing system having the continuously connectedportions 1 and 2. In this case, the tube is filled with an unpressurizedfashion with a pressure medium of gas or liquid. When the sleeve hasbeen closed, necessary pressure is obtained by compressing the container4 as will be explained later with regard to the embodiment of FIG. 11.

As mentioned above, the cross sectional shape of the sealing element forthe sealing portions 1 and 2 can have various shapes. In an embodimentillustrated in FIG. 9, it has a hollow, rectangular shape with the wallsof the square or rectangular shape, particularly the lateral walls 1eand 2e, being concave walls having inwardly extending depressions sothat when the tube is compressed in a vertical direction, which is thepreferred direction of collapse, the wall 1e or 2e collapsed into theinterior 1d or 2d when the compression pressure exceeds a limited valuewhich is governed by the shape and the material. When applying thiscompression, the tube will support the pressure because of the elasticmaterial properties and when the forementioned limit value is reached,the pipe or tube will collapse inwardly until it is finally completelycompressed. Thereafter, the compression is governed only by theelasticity of the material. This design is particularly favorable forsealing elements and sealing zones of cable joints since the profile iscombined with the elastic properties of material and can be constructedto be such that the pressure in the sealing system firstly increases ina linear fashion until the necessary closing pressure is reached. Duringthe next portion of the closing stroke which occur, for example, whenclosing elements are screwed further, the pressure in the sealing systemwill remain virtually the same. This means that the closing element needbe designed only for this necessary closing pressure. It is thusimpossible for the permitted value for the closing element to be widelyexceeded and therefore, there is adequate protection from overloads andfrom damage. Furthermore, in this sealing profile, an opening oraperture 1f or 2f can be formed as an inlet in one of the walls facingtowards the interior of the cable joint. Thus, with these openings 1f or2f, any excess pressure prevailing, for example, in the sleeve can beutilized or exploited in the sealing system so that additional excesspressure will prevail and the sealing system will serve as a backup inthe sealing system in the described sense.

An elastic characteristic of this kind is also represented in the graphof FIG. 10 wherein the pressure P versus the closing stroke S areplotted for the element of FIG. 9. The first section of the curve has alinearly, increasing characteristic in that an increasing closing strokeor distance occurs almost exclusively from the elastic property of thematerial used for the sealing element. After the first bend in thecurve, the collapse of the laterally indented or concave walls 1e and 2eof the sealing portions 1 and 2 in FIG. 9 will start. Here, the closingpressure remains virtually uniform and the height of this section isadjusted to be such that it will correspond precisely to the necessaryclosing pressure. When the closing stroke S is reached when the closingelements are further clamped, the closing pressure does not raise withina wide range. As a result, the tolerance range can be extended so as tovirtually avoid the damage of overloading the sealing element providingthe closing stroke is not increase beyond the second bend SM of thecurve. This, however, can be prevented by suitable measures andlimitations. If no limitation occurs following the second bend SM, thenormal compression is restored, which is governed solely by the materialused for the sealing element or forming the portions 1 and 2.

In using a sealing system, such as illustrated in FIG. 8, having thecontainer 4, the joint will have the construction at one of the endbodies 7 as illustrated in FIG. 11. As illustrated, the sleeve 8(2a) hasa groove for holding at least the annular portion 1 of the seal againstthe periphery of the end body 7. A container 4 is in the fluidcommunication with the interior of the tubular member and is pressed bya cap 5 which is secured on the outer surface of the body 7 by screws 6.To increase the internal pressure of the fluid in the tubular memberforming the portions 1 and 2, the pressing of the container 4 betweenthe cap 5 and the end surface of the end bodies 7 will cause a uniformpressure in the hollow, tubular sealing system to cause a uniformpressing against the various sealing surfaces. The dimensions of the cap5 are such that when it forms a stable contact with the appropriateshaped end wall of the body 7, an adequate sealing pressure is achieved.In contrast, by detaching the cap 5 by means of loosening the screws 6,the container 4 can be released and the fluid pressure in the interiorof the sealing system will be decreased so that the sleeve 8(2a) can bereopened without exerting much force. The advantages of the sealingsystem, which operates indirectly through an internal pressure in thesealing element or portions, has special advantages since it offersuniform distribution of pressure, ease of opening and closing of thesleeve with a pressureless tube and the simple facility of varying thepressure of the seal and thus, compensating for production tolerances.

In the embodiment of the cable joint 100 of FIG. 1, the annular portions1 are carried in peripheral grooves of the end bodies 7 while thelongitudinally extending portions 2 are carried on a annular bar ormember 13. As best illustrated in FIGS. 12-16, the sealing system hastwo longitudinal portions 2 which extend between the two annularportions 1. The two longitudinal portions are each held in spacerelationship in grooves 13a of the connecting bar 13 and are spacedapart by a ridge or rib 13b. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the annularportions 1 are received in a peripheral groove in the end body 7.Preferably, the sealing element having the portions 1 and 2 is assembledin this manner. The sleeve 8 along each edge of the slot has twobead-like projections or flanges 8a and 8b wherein the projection 8a hasa groove for receiving a longtidunally extending projection on the beador flange 8b. The projection and groove have a wedge shape and forclosure are compressed by means of one or more clamping bars, such asthe clamping bar 43 illustrated in chain lines in FIG. 3. The sleeve 8on an internal surface adjacent each of the edges has guide portions ormembers 8c which are arranged along the sealing zone so that when thesleeve 8 is closed, these will move behind the connecting bar 3 andprovide a precise guidance. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealingelement forming portions 1 and 2 is circular; however, this is notessential. The diameter of the element forming the portions 1 and 2 isselected to be such that the sealing portions project beyond the groove13a of the connecting bar 13. However, the groove 13a is designed to besuch that it contains sufficient bypass area for the later compressedseal while maintaining the necessary sealing pressure. The sealingelement forming the portions 1 and 2 can either be pressure free or canbe acted upon by an internal pressure.

To close the slot, as illustrated in FIG. 13, matching wedge-shapedclosing bars 43 are utilized. The sleeve 8 has been contracted in theclosure zone and longitudinal edges of the sleeve 8 have pressed thesealing portions 2 into the groove 13a of the connecting bar. Also,because the guide portions 8c engage the bar 13, an accurate positioningof the bar and sleeve will occur.

An endless sealing element will have corners of transition between thelongitudinal portion 2 and the annular portion 1 which are illustratedin the zone Z of FIG. 1 and shown in greater detail in FIG. 14. Theparticular difficulties which will occur with these transition zones aredescribed with regard to FIGS. 14-16.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, in the region of longitudinal portion 2 forthe connecting bar 13, there is a bridge or ridge 13b which extendsbetween the grooves 13a. At the zone or turning point Z (FIG. 1), theridge 13b tapers and narrows to a portion 13b' best illustrated in FIG.16 to form a gusset region. In this region, the two sealing portions 2will merge together and into side by side engagement and as illustrated,to ensure that the gusset region is completely sealed in a longitudinaldirection. The annular sealing portion 1 then continues in the continueddeformation of the sealing portion along the periphery of the end body7.

The change in the structure of the bridge element 13b to the portion13b' is best illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16. As illustrated, the bridge13b goes from a rectangular cross section to a wedge-shaped crosssection having two curved surfaces. It is also noted, that a part of theportion 13b' is formed in the actual periphery of the end member 7. Asillustrated in FIG. 15, the bar 13 forms a butt joint with an innerplanar surface of the body 7. To ensure a good seal, the two portions 2should be merged together prior to crossing this joint to ensure sealingthe cable joint from the exterior.

As mentioned with regard to the embodiment 100a of FIG. 2, the portions1 can be separate portions from the longitudinally extending portions 2.When utilizing separate portions, they can be annular rings or they canbe split annular rings, such as the split seal 84 of FIG. 17. The splitseal 84 has two components which are matched in length and dimensions tothe characteristics of the peripheral surface of the end body 7 or aninner peripheral surface of the sleeve if it is to be carried thereon.In order to ensure a simple and reliable guidance of these annular seals84, the division 88 has a T-shaped end 86. Thus, in accordance with thedivision area Y of FIG. 2 of the end body 7, the overall annular seal 84consists of a plurality of components which are inserted into theperipheral grooves of the end body 7. The T-shaped end 86 of the annularsealing component 84 is provided as an anchor in the sealing body andcan be received in a transverse groove similar to a groove 87 formed ina separation plane between elements of the end body as illustrated inFIG. 7. Each of the components of the annular seal 84 is located withbias in the end body peripheral groove and, due to the anchorage in thetransverse groove 87, cannot slide out. The T-shaped end 86 of theannular sealing component 84 are designed in such a manner that theround rear of the annular seal 84 continues to the division 88 and thatwhen the sealing body components are screwed together, the T-shaped ends86 are pressed against one another. When the split sleeve, such as 8(1),has been clamped around the end body 7, the annular seal 84 will bepressed onto the peripheral groove of the end body 7 and against theinner wall or surface of the sleeve until the desired sealing effect isachieved.

In FIGS. 18 and 19, a sleeve 8(1a) is illustrated in the sealing zone ofthe junction between the longitudinal sealing portions 2 and the annularportion 1. The two straight longitudinal portions 2 of the sealingsystem of FIG. 18 are accommodated in longitudinal grooves 9 of flanges10 of the sleeve 8(1a). The shape of the sealing grooves 9, and asealing groove 11 on the sleeve 8(1a) matches the corresponding alreadydescribed sealing forms. The two annular sealing portions 1 of thesealing system are accommodated in the annular grooves 11 located at thetwo joined ends of the sleeve 8(1a). These annular grooves 11 of thesleeve are arranged in the form of segments 12 along an inner peripherysurface of the sleeve 8(1a) in order not to impair the elasticityrequired for the closure process and to allow wrapping and unwrapping ofthe sleeve around the end bodies 7. Thus, in the case of an endlessseal, the two longitudinal portions 2 are inserted into the longitudinalgrooves 9 of the flanges 10 of the sleeve 8(1a) where they are pressedagainst one another. Following the assembly and the closure of thesleeve 8(1a), the interior of the joint is closed off from the exteriorso as to be pressure tight. The sealing system and the sealing groovesare adapted to one another in such a manner that having the sealingelements or portions pressed into the grooves, the portions remainsealed therein and cannot slide out. In this way, the sleeve 8(1a) andthe required seal portions 1 and 2 can be supplied as a unit andassembled at the location of use. As illustrated in FIG. 19, the twotransverse groove 87 which are in the division plane of the body 7represent an extension of the sealing groove 11 and serve to anchor thesplit annular seal 84. In such an arrangement, the body 7 may beprovided with a very shallow groove which coacts with the groove 11.

The closure means for holding the edges of the sleeves can take variousconfigurations.

For example, a sleeve 8(3) of FIGS. 20 and 21 utilize a plurality oftoggle closure devices having toggles 24 for clamping the pair ofhorizontal portions 2 in tight sealing engagement as the edges of thesleeve 8(3) are clamped together. The individual toggles 24, which havea self-locking device, are commercially available and are adapted to theconditions along the longitudinal slot. Thus, in any case, individualtoggles 24 of this kind will be engaged in the region of the end bodies7 to allow the clamping forces to act directly on the underlying annularseal portion 1 which is disposed between the periphery of the end body 7and the sleeve 8(3). The clamping force upon the longitudinal sealportions 2 is transferred, for example, via two web plates 25 which arefastened by screws 26 to the exterior of the sleeve 8(3) as can be seenin FIGS. 20 and 21. These plates 25 act on the edges flanges of thesleeve 8(3).

In the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 22-24, the closure means willrequire no special tools. Here again, the device consists of individualclosing toggles 28, which are arranged in series with one another alonga longitudinal slot of a sleeve 8(3a). These closing toggles 28 areprovided with one or more than one insertion slot 29 (FIG. 22) and atension wire 30 is hooked in the slots in order to clamp the closuredevice. As can be seen from FIG. 24, the tension wire 30 curves in aserpentine formation to provide hook portions interconnected by parallelwire portions to hook portions on the opposite side and with a number ofhook portions corresponding to the number of closing toggles 28. Theoffset is such that one side are inserted into insertion slots 31 on theflanges of the sleeve 8(3a) and the offset on the other side areinserted into insertion slots 29 of the closing toggle element 28. Whenthe closing toggle 28 has been pressed down, the tension wire 30 istightened and provides the necessary closing pressure to the sealingsystem and the longitudinal seal of the sleeve 8(3a) and in the annularseal system as the sleeve 8(3a) is thus simultaneously clamped onto theend bodies 7. As illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 23, the toggle is mountedwith a pin pivotally received on a portion of the opposite flange of thesleeve 8(3a) and has pivotal movement between a closed position,illustrated in bold lines in FIG. 22, to an open position, illustratedin broken lines in FIG. 22. When in the open position, the oppositeoffset portions will be released from the grooves 31, to release theseal portions 2.

Instead of utilizing toggles for the closure elements, a closure bar 32(FIGS. 25 and 26), which has parallel flanks and can be used for holdingthe flanges or beads of a sleeve 8(4) together. A longitudinal bead tothe sleeve 8(4) is provided at the outer surface with longitudinallyextending undercuts and to which an inwardly bent flank of the closingbar 32 is engaged. The clamping of the closure device comprising the bar32 with the longitudinal bead is carried out by a plurality of eccentriccams 33 with axles 34 which cams are mounted at a short interval alongthe length of the bar 32. The cams are mounted in such a manner thatthey can engage an undercut on the other longitudinal bead when they areturned inward from the exterior in order to clamp the two beads togetherby the bar. By virtue of the eccentric design of the cams 33, theclosing pressure along the longitudinal slot can be producedcontinuously by using a simple tool, for example, a screwdriver in thecase of a slotted design of the rotational axles 34. As illustrated inFIG. 25, the longitudinal seal portions 2 are placed in longitudinalgrooves in the edge flanges of the sleeve 8(4) and the edges also have awedge-shaped projection received in the wedge-shaped groove to aid intheir aligned during forming of the closure. As illustrated in FIG. 26,the eccentrically designed cams 33 have an oval shape so that a doublestroke is produced on rotation around their axle 34. For this purpose,the end of the axles 34 are slotted to receive a screwdriver. However,they can be provided with a square, or hexagonal head or socket. Tosimplify the assembly of the closing bar 34, the flange opposite to theone engaged by the cams 33 is provided with inlet bevels 35 and 36. Hereagain, the sealing portions 2 of FIG. 25 are illustrated as being solidelements.

In an embodiment of the closure which is illustrated in FIGS. 27 and 28,a sleeve 8(5) has alternately arranged flange portions 37 which overlapadjacent edge portions of the sleeve 8(5). The projecting end of theoverlapping longitudinal flanges 37 is designed to have a concave faceand the concave faces coact to produce a locking groove 40 extending inthe longitudinal direction. A rod 38 can now be engaged in this lock-ingroove 40 along the entire length of the slot. However, the diameter ofthe rod 38 must be such that the longitudinal flanges 37 can be movedapart until a longitudinal edges of the sleeve 8(5) are compressed in asealed fashion onto the inserted sealing system portions 2. Inlet bevels41 on an edge of each of the longitudinal flanges 37 simplify theinsertion of the closing rod 38. An improvement as represented in FIGS.27 and 28 provide the closing rod 38 with an oval cross section with anarrow axis and a major axis. In this way, the closing rod 38 isintroduced into the groove 40 with its major axis extending radiallyrelative to the axis of the sleeve 8(5). Then, the rod is rotated 90° toplace the major axis to extend between the surfaces of the grooves 40and to provide the closing pressure on the sealing system. As bestillustrated in FIG. 28, the flanges 37 are alternately overlapping fromopposite sides of the sleeve 8(5). The closing rod 38 extends parallelto the longtidunal direction and can be shaped preferably at an end 39to enable rotation by means of a simple tool.

The closure devices or means for the cable joint can comprise taperingconnecting bars 42 and 43 which coact with tapering closing flanges 44that extend along the longitudinal slot of a sleeve 8(6) (FIG. 30). Thetapering flanges taper from a narrow portion adjacent each end to awider portion at the center and the elements 43 also have this taperingcondition so that when the two elements 43 and 42 are drawn togetherthey apply a closing pressure on the flanges 44 and any seal portions 2disposed therebetween. As best seen from FIG. 30, the two closing bars42 and 43 are provided for the closure of the sleeve 8(6) and arelaterally positioned on the corresponding longitudinally taperingflanges 44. In the region of the sleeve center, these longitudinalflanges contain radial recesses 45 which are arranged in series. Throughopenings 46 in the closing bars 42 and 43, these closing bars can bemoved in a longitudinal direction by a levering movement, for example,by using a screwdriver inserted through the opening and engages in arecess 45. During the closing of the sleeve, the two closing bars 42 and43, which have been drawn towards one another are locked by means of arachet lever 47, which is arranged on the closing bar 42 and engagesinto a corresponding recess or aperture 48 as illustrated in FIG. 31.The rachet lever or hook element 47 can be unlocked by being lifted by ascrewdriver inserted in the groove, such as 49, whereupon thewedge-shaped bars 42 and 43 are released by again inserting ascrewdriver through the above mentioned apertures 46 to engage a recess45 and apply leverage to move the bars.

In the previously described closure system, two horizontal portions 2are utilized. In the system illustrated in FIGS. 32-37, only a singlehorizontal portion is provided. Thus, like the arrangement of FIG. 2,the annular portions 1 are separate from the horizontal portion 2.However, they are arranged so that in the area of the two end bodies 7,the annular portions 1 intersect the single, horizontal portion providedby the single seal 63. This point of intersection is shown by the zone Win FIG. 2. Special provisions must be made for this purpose in order toadhere to the necessary closing conditions. On the whole, any system inaccordance with the invention can be used for the annular seal portions1 which can be designed to be self-closed or split rings.

In the embodiment of FIG. 32, a cross sectional view of a longitudinalclosure device represents an arrangement of this longtidunal seal 63which follows the application of a tapering closing bar 66 and ispressed by means of a pressure strip 64 and the securing screws 65thereof into a longtidunal groove 67 which is formed in a longitudinalflange of a sleeve 8(7). Due to the bevel of the longitudinal groove inthe upper longitudinal flange of the sleeve 8(7), the longitudinal seal63 is also pressed against the flat surface of the underlyinglongitudinal flange. In this way, the desired compression of the seal 63is achieved with the pressure strip 64 firmly screwed into the position.For example, until after the closing bar 66 has been applied, thepressure strips 64 may be in a loosely received position withoutapplying pressure on the seal 63. Subsequent to applying the bars 66,the screws are then tightened by inserting a screwdriver through thebore 68 to move the pressure strips 64 to a position to apply pressureon the seal 63. This will have the advantage, that the pressure forforming the seal between the flanges and 63 is not done until after thebar 66 is applied.

An embodiment or modification of this arrangement is illustrated in FIG.33. A sealing or pressure bar 70 has been integrated into two taperingclosing bars 69 which have a longitudinally extending groove 71 forreceiving the pressure strips 70. Additionally, screws 72 are providedfor applying or exerting pressure on the strip 70. This is a variationwhich provides greater ease of assembly in comparison to the embodimentof FIG. 32 because the necessary components are preassembled. Bytightening a screw 72 after the mounting of the closing bar 69, theinserted longitudinal seal 63 is then compressed in a sealing grooveformed in the longitudinal flanges of a sleeve 8(8).

Another embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 34-37. In this embodiment, anannular seal 60 is carried by the end bodies 7 with the longitudinalseal 63 being arranged as in the two embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 32and 33. Thus, as shown in FIG. 36, a groove base 74 of the upperlongitudinal flange is opened in this intersecting zone so that at thisintersecting zone the annular seal 60 and the longitudinal seal 63 cancontact one another. The so-called gusset, which is formed in thiscontact zone, can, in some cases, also be filled with a locally appliedpermanently plastic bonding compound. For the sealing of this gusset, aninner sealing lip 75 of each of the two longitudinal flanges of thesleeve 8(9) taper in to form blades (see FIG. 34). In the region of theannular seal 60, the longitudinal seal 63 is deflected out of the innercontour of the longitudinal flange by an appropriately shaped spring orpressue element 73 of a pressure strip 64' so that the two sealingportions are compressed at the point of intersection. As illustrated inFIG. 37, the end of the pressure strip 64' with the projecting spring orportion 73 will effect the deflection of the longitudinal seal 63. Thisdeflection can also be seen in FIG. 36 in which the portion of thelongitudinal seal 63 in the remaining region of the longitudinal slothas been indicated in broken lines. This ensures that a reliable seal ofthe gusset zone is also obtained at the intersection point of the twosealing element portions.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the system 100b has the sealing portions 1 and2 carried on the sleeve 8(2). Preferably, the portions 1 and 2 are alsointegral so that they are formed by a single, continuous loop element.As best illustrated in FIG. 38, the sleeve 8(2) has the annular portions1 received in the annular grooves formed by segments 12 of the sleeve8(2) so that when the sleeve 8(2) is closed, the portions 1 will bepressed onto the peripheral surface of the end body 7. The longitudinalportions 2 are secured at the longitudinal edges of the sleeve 8(2) ingrooves formed in edge flanges 12'. Following the assembly of the endbodies and the connecting bar 13(1), the sleeve 8(2) is mounted in sucha manner that the two longitudinal seal portions 2 are arranged oppositethe connecting bar 13(1). Here, the connecting bar 13(1) contains arecess 13c which leaves a space adjacent the recesses or grooves in theflanges 12' of the sleeve 8(2) to automatically produce a mutualalignment. During the closure of the sleeve 8(2) with the aid of aclosing bar, the two longitudinal edges are drawn towards one anotherwhereby the seal portions 2 attach themselves in a sealing fashion ontothe closing bar 13(1). As already explained with reference to FIGS.14-16, the closing bar 13(1) is provided with corresponding recesses inorder to be reliably sealed, the gusset zones which is formed at thejunction of the portions 1 and 2.

A modification of the arrangement of FIG. 38 is illustrated in FIG. 39wherein the longitudinal seal portions 2 are again pressed by a sleeve8(2b) onto a connecting bar 13(2) which is located in the interior ofthe cable joint. Connecting bar 13(2) is firmly secured by lateralsurfaces following the assembly of the cable in the end bodies 7. Inorder to avoid a different longitudinal expansion in the event oftemperature changes, the connecting bar 13(2) likewise consists, forexample, of a synthetic material. In this examplary embodiment, threadedbolts 14 are secured into the connecting bar 13(2) at short intervals inseries with one another and extend outwardly through correspondinglyfree-half bores in the two longitudinal flanges of the sleeve 8(2b) andthrough a flange bar 15. The flange bar 15 is then tightened by acorresponding nut 16 against the longitudinal flanges of the sleeve8(2b) so that the two longitudinal flanges of the sleeve 8(2b) arepressed onto one another and the connecting bar 13(2) is pressed againstthe two longitudinal seal portions 2. This prevents the connecting bar13(2) from yielding due to inadequate rigidity of shape. Thisdouble-sided bevel of the two longitudinal flanges of the sleeve 8(2b)and of the flange bar 15 facilitate the positioning of the flange bar 15and permit the double-sided pressure of the longitudinal flanges towardsone another. The threaded bolts 14 are sealed from the exterior by anelastomer disk 17. Also, indicated in the background in the annular seal1 which is fixed in an annular groove formed by segments 12 of thesleeve 8(2b).

Another modification or alternate construction is illustrated in FIG.40. Here, in addition to being pressed onto a connecting bar 13(3), thetwo longitudinal seal portions 2 are also pressed against one anotherthus increasing the sealing effect. A longitudinal flange 18 of thesleeve 8(2c) has a hook shape and overlaps a second projectinglongitudinal flange 19. The lower longitudinal flange 19 is placed on athreaded bolt 20 which is screwed into the connecting bar 13(3) and iscovered by the upper longitudinal flange 18 through which the bolt 20likewise projects. The necessary sealing pressure is produced by meansof a hexagonal nut 21 and the screw bore is again sealed by an elastomerdisk 22 positioned between the two longitudinal flanges. An inlet bevel23 on the inner longitudinal flange 19 facilitates the overlap of thetwo longitudinal flanges and also permits the two longitudinal sealportions 2 to be pressed onto one another.

As mentioned here and before, when utilizing sealing systems, such as atubular system of FIGS. 7 and 8, an indirect sealing force can beapplied. In this arrangement, the closure system is more or less slacklyassembled and the necessary sealing pressure is finally produced bypressure medium inside of the tubular sealing system. As illustrated inFIG. 41, a longitudinal seal of a sleeve 8(10) is initially notsubjected to closing pressure because it has a tubular sealing element50 inserted into a longitudinally extending sealing groove. The twolongitudinally extending sealing flanges of the sleeve 8(10) are heldtogether by a closing bar 51 wherein the groove and projectioncombinations serve to align the longitudinal flanges. The applicationand locking of the closing bar 51 is facilitated by bevels 53 along thelongitudinal flanges so that the closing bar 51 can be locked inposition by being pressed down into externally located grooves 52.Following the simple positioning and fixing of the longitudinal flanges,the previously pressureless tubular seal 50 is now expanded by apressure medium which is applied by either method describedhereinbefore. This pressure medium provides the necessary closingpressure to be built up by the formation of the internal pressure. Asillustrated in FIG. 42, the final state is achieved wherein the tubularseals 50 entirely fill the groove areas and in some cases, even deformthe connecting bar 51 until it strikes against the longitudinal flangesurface. In a closure system of this type, no longitudinal connectingbars are required for the sealing purpose so that the position of thelongitudinal closing device is noncritical.

A modification of this system is illustrated in FIGS. 43 and 44 whereinthe longitudinal section of the sealing zone of the cable joint isobtained without the addition of the closing component. In thismodification, the lower longitudinal flange 54 of a sleeve 8(11) ishooked-shaped and overlaps an upper longitudinal flange 55. The flanges54 and 55 have facing grooves which receive the longitudinal portion ofthe tubular seal 56. With the tubular seal inserted, the longitudinalflange 54 is moved across the longitudinal flange 55 and the assembly isfacilitated by the provision of a bevel 57. After forming the assembly,the tubular system has a pressure medium inserted to the interior untilnecessary closure pressure has been produced (see FIG. 44). Thiscompression also serves to achieve the necessary mechanical hookingengagement of the closure system.

Another modification utilizing an internal pressure system isillustrated in FIGS. 45 and 46. In order to simplify the molding toolsfor the production of a sleeve, a sleeve 8(12) is utilized. In thehook-shaped formation of the flanges corresponding to the flanges of 54is provided by a U-shaped bar 58. The bar 58 is attached to a lower partof the sleeve 8(12) by a fastener 59. The assembly is accomplished withno internal pressure in the tubular seal 56 and after assembly, apressue medium is inserted in the tubes 56 to expand them to thecondition illustrated in FIG. 46 to form the seal therebetween.

As mentioned hereinabove, problems with provided peripheral sealinggrooves on an inner surface of a sleeve in the region of the end bodies7 for receiving the annular sealing portion 1 occur. On the one hand,the sealing groove is to serve to fix the annular sealing portion 1 andon the other hand, flexibilty of the sleeve should not be impaired by aperipheral groove of this type. It is particularly difficult tomanufacture a sleeve with integral peripheral groove since the removalof the sleeve from the mold presents particular complications. Thus, itis expedient to provide separate elements which can be subsequentlyattached to the sleeve by bonding, insertion or clamping. Such elements12a are illustrated in cross section in FIG. 47 and are secured on asleeve 8(2c).

As illustrated in FIG. 48, the groove elements 12a which is theelongated form are arranged in series as a strip and can be maintainedflexible by transverse slots or indentations. These strip-likestructures are then easily positioned onto projections 12b formed on theinner portion of sleeve 8(2c).

In order to fix a tubular seal 89 in a sleeve, such as the sleeve 8(13)of FIG. 49, a groove in a longitudinal flange of the sleeve 8(13) isprovided with a longitudinally extending groove 90 into which a bracketstrip 91 which is laterally molded into a sealing element 89 is insertedin a shape locking fashion. This design of a tubular sealing element canbe applied to all of the previously described embodiments and therefore,further explanation is unnecessary.

Preferably, the tubular sealing element 89 is of the kind consisting ofa special rubber mixture corresponding to the prerequisite elasticityand permitted permeation. The endless sealing elements are preferablyfilled with a gas subject to a slight overpressure. The compressible gasfilling of the sealing element of this kind provides an all-arounduniform pressure and thus permits the compensation of the productiontolerances in respect to cross sectional constrictions of the sealinggroove and the like. When the sleeve 8(13) is closed by means of atapered closing bar, as has been described several times, the gaspressure in the tubular sealing element which pressure required forsealing of a maximum of 0.7 bar inner pressure, is produced by pressingthe closing bars against one another and onto an end body.

Although various minor modifications may be suggested by those versed inthe art, it should be understood that we wish to employ within the scopeof the patent granted hereon, all such modifications as reasonably andproperly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

We claim:
 1. In a cable joint having a pair of end bodies with sealingglands for cables extending therethrough and a sleeve having alongitudinally extending slot with two edge portions with flanges, saidsleeve being wrapped around the spaced apart end bodies and held thereby a closing means engaging said flanges, the improvements comprising asealing system having annular sealing portions and at least onelongitudinal sealing portion, said flanges having a wedge shape andhaving means for forming a groove for receiving and holding thelongitudinal sealing portion between the flanges, said flanges havingradial indentations on a radial outer surface, said closing meansincluding a pair of closing bars having a wedge shape for engaging theflanges, said closing bars having cut out portions to enable engagingsaid indentations with a tool to urge the closing bar into and out of aclosing position on said flanges, said sealing portions being of anelastic material constructed to be sufficiently flexible so that theclosing bars and flanges can be constructed as simple as possible andcan be actuated by utilizing conventional tools for obtaining thenecessary closing pressure.
 2. In a cable joint according to claim 1,wherein there are two longitudinal sealing portions and the annularsealing portions and the longitudinal sealing portions are combined in asingle, continuous, endless ring sealing element, said ring elementproviding the annular portions extending between the periphery of theend bodies and the sleeve and also two longitudinal portions for formingthe seal of the slot of said sleeve.
 3. In a cable joint according toclaim 2, wherein the endless ring sealing element has a solid crosssection.
 4. In a cable joint according to claim 3, wherein the endlessring sealing element has at least one lip extending the length of saidring.
 5. In a cable joint according to claim 2, wherein the endless ringsealing element is provided with a bonding agent.
 6. In a cable jointaccording to claim 2, wherein the endless ring sealing element has atubular cross section.
 7. In a cable joint according to claim 6, whereinthe tubular sealing element forming the ring has an approximatelyrectangular basic cross section, with two side walls being concave sidewalls so that when the sealing element is compressed, a preferredbending direction is obtained.
 8. In a cable joint according to claim 7,wherein the tubular sealing element has at least one opening directedinto the interior of the cable joint to enable transfer of pressure fromthe tubular sealing element and the interior of the cable joint.
 9. In acable joint according to claim 7, wherein the walls of the rectangularcross section are selected so that during compression of the sealingelement, it exhibits a spring characteristic with a linear pressure useand then has a substantially uniform pressure characteristic duringfurther collapsing of the element up to a maximum closing pressure. 10.In a cable joint according to claim 6, wherein the interior of thetubular sealing element is subjectable to an excess in pressure.
 11. Ina cable joint according to claim 10, wherein the sealing elementincludes a valve for regulating the pressure in the tubular sealingelement.
 12. In a cable joint according to claim 10, wherein the tubularsealing element is connected to a compressible container.
 13. In a cablejoint according to claim 2, wherein the endless ring sealing element isprovided with an impermeable coating.
 14. In a cable joint according toclaim 1, wherein the longitudinal and annular sealing portions of thesealing system are separate sealing elements.
 15. In a cable jointaccording to claim 14, wherein at least one of the sealing elements hasa solid cross section.
 16. In a cable joint according to claim 14,wherein at least one of the sealing elements has a rectangular basiccross section with two side walls having a concave configuration tocontrol the collapse of the side walls when subjected to a compressiveforce.
 17. In a cable joint according to claim 14, wherein at least oneof the sealing element has at least one sealing lip.
 18. In a cablejoint according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the sealingelements at its end has an enlarged end portion engaged by one of theend bodies and sleeve to hold the sealing element in position.
 19. In acable joint according to claim 1, wherein each of the flanges has afacing groove containing a longitudinal sealing portion.
 20. In a cablejoint according to claim 19, wherein the closing bars are provided withcoacting aperture and hook element which prevent them from sliding awayfrom each other.
 21. In a cable joint according to claim 1, wherein theannular portions are received in an annular groove formed by a pluralityof circumferentially spaced segments on the inner surface of saidsleeve.
 22. In a cable joint according to claim 1, wherein the annularportions are received in an annular groove formed by a pair of flexibleelements secured to an inner surface of the sleeve.
 23. In a cable jointaccording to claim 1, wherein the means for supporting at least one ofthe portions of the sealing system comprises a groove having an innergroove for receiving a lateral molding strip of the element forming thesealing portion.
 24. In a cable joint according to claim 1, wherein oneof the flanges has a longitudinally extending second groove receiving alongitudinally extending projection of the other flange.